As a naturopathic doctor, I am interested in conditions involving the nervous system. These conditions include, but are not limited to, autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, down syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, and childhood epilepsy. You may be wondering what naturopathic medicine can do for such complex conditions; the answer is a lot. We are so lucky to be alive at a time when Western medicine has developed medications that have substantially changed people’s lives. Unfortunately, medication has its limitations and exceptions and does not always achieve the desired effects. That’s where alternative medicine can be a life-changer, namely with childhood epilepsy and how natural and supportive care can improve quality of life.
Tessa had just celebrated her first birthday and was getting over a cold. She was eating lunch in her high chair when her arm moved up and down a few times and then her whole little body went limp. Her parents called 9-1-1, and since Tessa had recently received her immunisations and was fighting a cold, the EMTs explained that it was most likely a febrile seizure and therefore harmless. The arm movements had the neurologist a bit concerned, so he ordered an EEG, which confirmed that Tessa had epilepsy. Initially, her parents were given encouraging odds that she would likely outgrow her seizures; however, they persisted and her development slowed. Her parents were desperate to know what they could do to support her.
UNDERSTANDING PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY
It might come as a surprise that childhood epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children all around the world. Around 2–3 percent of children will be diagnosed with epilepsy, and 8–10 percent of children will experience a seizure. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can either be provoked by an internal or external source or occur unprovoked, often due to a structural or physiological irregularity. A child is clinically diagnosed with epilepsy when they have two or more unprovoked seizures separated by 24 hours. So, while epilepsy involves seizures, not every seizure indicates epilepsy; it’s possible to be diagnosed with provoked seizures without being given an epilepsy diagnosis.
Once epilepsy has been diagnosed, it is further divided into “types,” which are based on the type of seizures experienced. Most people think of seizures as convulsive events with complete loss of consciousness. That is usually how they are portrayed in the media; however, you might be surprised to know that some seizures are quite subtle and brief—almost undetectable—such as an “absence seizure."
TYPES OF PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY
Childhood Absence Epilepsy
This occurs when the child has brief seizures involving loss of awareness and responsiveness. These seizures look miraculously like daydreaming. Typically lasting a few seconds, the child might stare blankly ahead, blink rapidly, or appear to be chewing. They are, however, completely unconscious and cannot respond.
Generalised Tonic-Clonic Seizures
In this case, a child may experience a complete loss of consciousness and muscle contractions. The child may suddenly collapse, and their body will either stiffen or jerk rhythmically (clonic). These seizures usually last one to five minutes and, as you can imagine, are typically followed by extreme fatigue.
Central Temporal Spike
This typically involves seizures around sleep. Corey is a six-year-old boy with this type of epilepsy. He experiences seizures just as he is falling asleep or just upon waking. They begin as a tingling feeling on the side of his mouth and can evolve into drooling or twitching. During the seizure, Corey is unable to speak and can sometimes feel the tingling spread to his arms or legs. The seizure lasts a few minutes, then passes. In Corey’s case, he is often aware of the seizure as it happens and knows to wait patiently until it passes. Other children may lack complete awareness of their seizures as they occur.
Focal Onset Epilepsy
This is similar to epilepsy with central temporal spikes, as the child may be either aware or not aware of the seizure as it occurs; it too is often experienced as sensations on one side of the body. Unlike epilepsy with a central temporal spike, focal onset epilepsy can occur at any time of the day.
These are just a few of the most common types of childhood epilepsy, but there are many others, and some can overlap. It’s also important to note that many non-epileptic episodes can mimic seizures, such as:
- Fainting spells
- Breath-holding spells
- Sleep jerks
- Night terrors
- Daydreaming
- Severe migraines
- Heart and stomach conditions
- Mental health conditions
Such a varied presentation of seizures and non-seizures can make seeking the right diagnosis a difficult and often long journey. And yet, getting an early diagnosis and treatment is essential, as repeated or prolonged seizures can result in injury to the brain. This can ultimately interfere with proper development during a critical period of growth. The earlier treatments can begin, the better the outcomes.
HOLISTIC APPROACHES
It is important to understand that given the nature of childhood epilepsy, other than certain surgeries aimed at specific epileptic conditions, there does not exist a treatment that cures it. Treatments are therefore aimed at managing the symptoms as best as possible. Western medicine has come a long way in developing a variety of epilepsy medications aimed at managing different types of seizures. With more than 90 percent of children with childhood epilepsy positively responding to medication, the future of childhood epilepsy management is looking bright. However, certain types of epilepsy have proven to be highly resistant to conventional medication, and some children are only partially responsive to them, so many families are looking for alternative holistic care for solutions. Naturopathic doctors specialising in the field of pediatric epilepsy have holistic tools that can be clinically significant in improving the quality of life and proper development of children with epilepsy.
Diet & Nutrition: The Ketogenic Diet
The reason that the ketogenic diet is talked about so much regarding epilepsy is due to its astounding outcomes. It’s often recommended to children who do not respond well to medications, with over half of the children on the ketogenic diet having at least a 50 percent reduction in the number of seizures, while 10–15 percent become completely seizure-free.
So, what exactly is a ketogenic diet? This diet is composed of high-fat foods, protein, and very few carbohydrates. It’s usually monitored by a professional, and foods are often weighed and measured carefully, making this a very high-maintenance diet.
In a “normal” diet, we eat a decent amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose in our bodies; glucose is the official “currency” that the body uses to make energy. The issue with glucose is that its levels are in constant flux, rising and falling based on hormonal changes. This constant flux creates an unstable and excitable environment in the brain, which can promote seizures. When reducing carbohydrates considerably and increasing high-fat foods, the energy currency of the body can shift from glucose to ketones. Unlike glucose, ketones can reduce epileptic episodes for several reasons:
- Ketones are a great energy source for brain cells. They can cross the blood-brain barrier and provide a steady, stable energy supply to the brain, reducing the brain’s excitability and its tendency to generate seizures.
- Ketones have nourishing properties. They are anti-inflammatory, which is particularly important in conditions like epilepsy, where inflammation can exacerbate neuronal injury. Ketones also reduce oxidative stress, protecting neurons from damage that contributes to seizures.
- Ketones are neurotransmitter regulators. Ketones can increase the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability and seizures.
Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been around for over 2,000 years. Documentation of an acupuncture treatment for seizures by TCM practitioners was found to be written in the year 200 BCE. As acupuncture is now finding a prominent place in medicine and wellness in the Western world, its benefits for childhood epilepsy are starting to resurface. Unlike phlebotomy needles used for blood tests, acupuncture needles are extremely thin, and most children can tolerate them quite well.
Current studies find that acupuncture treatments significantly reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in medicated children with epilepsy.12 When compared to pharmaceutical treatments, acupuncture treatments do not reach the same calibre of improvements as medication; however, across the board, research shows that medication and acupuncture achieve more together than separately. Still, there is not as much research available on acupuncture as there could be. It will be interesting to see in the coming years what research will find on the effects of acupuncture as a stand-alone treatment.
Supplementation
Because the brains of children with epilepsy have unique demands, they require more nutrients than the average diet can supply, especially the ketogenic diet. Here are some key actions needed to reduce the severity and frequency of seizures in childhood epilepsy:
Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain: Vitamin E, glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and omega-3 have been clinically found to serve as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that contribute greatly to brain stability and health. Glutathione levels specifically, are deficient in children with epilepsy to begin with, so supplementation can be considered essential.
Modulate electrical conduction in the brain: Magnesium deficiency has been linked to increased seizure activity in childhood epilepsy, so sufficient amounts are highly recommended. Taurine is an amino acid that modulates neurotransmitter activity and stabilises cell membranes and has been found to have anticonvulsant properties.
Essential in brain-cell energy production and stabilisation: Vitamins B6 and B12 both need further research in the field of childhood epilepsy but are worth considering since they play a key role in the health of the nervous system.
There is no doubt that childhood epilepsy presents significant challenges, for both the child and their support system. Naturopathic medicine, with its holistic perspective, offers valuable complementary treatments such as dietary modifications, acupuncture, and targeted supplementation. These methods can work alongside conventional medicine to provide a more robust care plan. By understanding the various types of epilepsy and the benefits of natural care, we can better support children like Tessa and Corey, hopefully allowing them to lead more stable and fulfilling lives. As we continue to explore and validate these alternative therapies, the future of epilepsy management looks increasingly hopeful and promising.
